Engineering - Optical Engineering
ME Optical Engineering
Graduate Taught (level 9 nfq, credits 120)
Between 2014 and 2016 Ireland outpaced the EU28 in the industrial sector of Computer, Electronic, Optical and Electronic Equipment, with an increase of over 56% in net sales value from an already high base. Optical technologies play key roles in many areas including biomedical imaging, astronomy, quality control, security, sensing and telecommunications (most obviously with the introduction of multi-camera mobile phones). Very exciting innovative technologies are rapidly emerging, driven by the ability to display and capture large amounts of real time optical data. Optical engineers are involved in identifying and designing these systems, with the aim of improving people's lives, generating employment and creating new business opportunities.
Who should apply?
Full Time option suitable for:
Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. Yes
Course Description
- Delivered by a highly research-intensive School composed of many internationally high-profile academics including five IEEE Fellows. This two-year programme provides 6-8 months of professional work experience as an embedded element of the programme.
- You will gain an advanced understanding of a broad range of areas within optical engineering, such as biomedical signal processing, optoelectronics and biomedical imaging.
- Research project topics are spread across a wide range, but related to and drawing on the topics covered in the taught modules. Similarly, your work placement can involve a variety of roles in a range of different companies in the electronic and computer engineering field.
Vision and Values Statement
Hello, My name if Professor John Sheridan. I head the Masters in Optical Engineering program here in the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at University College Dublin.
The reason UCD decided to set up this masters program was because of repeated requests, from colleagues in universities and industry, to supply graduates capable of tackling the challenges arising in today's cutting edge man/machine interfaces.
You are all certainly familiar with mobile phone technology, and virtual, mixed and augmented reality systems.
All of these necessitate the solution of problems involving image capture, processing and display.
Understanding how optical systems work and how we can interact optimally with such systems will dominate much of the next 20 years of engineering activity.
Currently companies such as Apple, Google, Huawei and Microsoft have dedicated international teams of engineers working on how best to integrate smart optical systems with AI and cloud-based computing to achieve improvements in healthcare provision, driverless cars and robotics.
We would like you to want to be part of this revolution, a revolution that will affect the lives of every person on this planet and one having significant economic potential.
Your two years masters program includes lectures from leaders in the fields of optics, electronics, physics, computer science and bio-engineering.
You will undertake both core modules and be helped choose from a range of interdisciplinary module so you can tailor your educational experiences to your desires and need.
As part of your masters degree you will work on a project supervised by a leading researcher. It is our aim that your project work be of sufficient quality to be presentable at an international conference.
With our assistance you will apply for and be interviewed to work for up to 6 months as an intern in a company in Ireland or abroad.
We will provide you with every assistance to become the very best and the most successful you can be.
Programme Outcomes
Advanced knowledge and understanding of the mathematics, sciences, engineering sciences and technologies underpinning optical engineering with a special emphasis on Fourier optics.
The ability to identify, formulate, analyse and solve complex engineering problems.
The ability to perform the detailed design of novel systems and processes using analysis and knowledge of advanced optical systems.
The ability to design and conduct experiments, and apply and evaluate a range of standard and specialised research tools, analytical techniques and methods of enquiry.
The ability to work effectively as an individual and in teams, together with the capacity to undertake lifelong learning, thus offering a foundation for entry into advanced research programmes.
The ability to communicate effectively on complex engineering matters with the engineering community and with society at large.
Student Internships
The Professional Work Experience (PWE) module is incorporated into the two-year Masters of Engineering Programme and is designed to integrate a student's academic and career interests with practical work experience for a 6-8 month period.
The module provides students with the perfect opportunity to gain increased experience and understanding of their chosen field, assess where their strengths and weaknesses lie and maximise their knowledge of the available career possibilities. The practical skills acquired during this placement will give graduates a competitive advantage when applying for positions upon graduation.
Subjects taught
Stage 1 - Core
Optoelectronics EEEN40640
Stage 1 - Option
Numerical Algorithms ACM40290
Hyperspectral imaging BSEN40500
Optical Sensing Technology BSEN40520
Nanomaterials Chemistry CHEM40870
Software Engineering (ME)COMP41670
Data Science in Python (MD)COMP47670
Electromagnetic Waves EEEN30030
Signal Processing: Theory and Applications EEEN30050
Signals and Systems EEEN30110
Modelling and Simulation EEEN30150
Biomedical Signal Processing EEEN30160
Control Theory EEEN40010
Neural Engineering EEEN40070
Advanced Signal Processing EEEN40130
ME Prof. Work Exp. (Short) EEEN40200
ME Prof. Work Exp. (Long) EEEN40210
Entrepreneurship in Engineering EEEN40300
Optimisation Techniques for Engineers EEEN40580
Optical Engineering EEEN40630
Materials Science and Engineering III MEEN40040
Professional Engineering (Management) MEEN40430
Optics & LasersPHYC30080
Applied OpticsPHYC40210
Biophysics at the Nanoscale and Nanodevices PHYC40480
Introduction to medical image analysis and machine learning RDGY30440
Medical Imaging (Clin/Res) RDGY30520
Quantitative Methods for Engineers STAT40690
Stage 2 - Core
Biomedical ImagingEEEN40620
ME Project (Optical)EEEN40650
Stage 2 - Option
Numerical Algorithms ACM40290
Biological Imaging BIOL40560
Biological Imaging BMOL40180
Hyperspectral imaging BSEN40500
Optical Sensing Technology BSEN40520
Nanomaterials Chemistry CHEM40870
Data Science in Python (MD)COMP47670
Electromagnetic Waves EEEN30030
Signal Processing: Theory and Applications EEEN30050
Modelling and Simulation EEEN30150
Neural Engineering EEEN40070
Advanced Signal Processing EEEN40130
Optimisation Techniques for Engineers EEEN40580
Optical Engineering EEEN40630
Materials Science and Engineering III MEEN40040
Professional Engineering (Management) MEEN40430
Optics & Lasers PHYC30080
Applied Optics PHYC40210
Nanooptics and biophotonics PHYC40400
Nanomechanics - from single molecules to single cells PHYC40430
Biophysics at the Nanoscale and Nanodevices PHYC40480
Advanced Atomic Force Microscopy for Bionanoscience PHYC40560
Space Detector Laboratory (10) PHYC40870
Introduction to medical image analysis and machine learning RDGY30440
Medical Imaging (Clin/Res) RDGY30520
Quantitative Methods for Engineers STAT40690
Entry requirements
An honours undergraduate degree (NFQ Level 8 ) with a minimum upper second class honours or international equivalent in an Electrical, Electronic, Computer or Optical Engineering programme is required.
Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 6.5 (no band less than 6.0 in each element), or equivalent.
Students meeting the programme's academic entry requirements but not the English language requirements, may enter the programme upon successful completion of UCD's International Pre-Master's Pathway programmes. Please see the following link for further information: https://www.ucd.ie/alc/programmes/pathways/int%20pmp/
These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested for some programmes.
Application dates
How to apply?
The following entry routes are available:
ME Optical Engineering FT (T319)
Deadline Rolling *
* Courses will remain open until such time as all places have been filled, therefore early application is advised.
Credits
120
Duration
2 years full-time.
Fees
ME Optical Engineering (T319) Full Time
EU Year 1 - € 8085
EU Year 2 - € 8085 aa
nonEU Year 1 - € 25600
nonEU Year 2 - € 25600 aa
aaSecond Year Fee applies to Students in 2nd Year in 2020 and who were a 1st Year Student on the programme in 2019/20
***Fees are subject to change
Enrolment dates
Next Intake: 2020/2021 September
Post Course Info
Career & Graduate Study Opportunity
There are excellent job opportunities for optical engineers in the display, lighting, virtual reality, robotic and drone areas. It is a large and expanding area. Established employers in Ireland include both multinationals and indigenous companies, e.g. Andor, Carl Zeiss, Huawei, Intel/Movidius, Qualcomm, and Sensl, to name but a few.